Fluid pressure device including axially positionable shaft means and rotary valve means

ABSTRACT

Fluid pressure device including axially positionable shaft means and rotary valve means. Said shaft means and said rotary valve means are independently and axially positionable in housing means having first and second end portions. Closure means is removably secured to said first end portion of said housing means. Stationary valve means is removably secured to said second end portion of said housing means. Said shaft means rotates said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means. Rotatable and orbitable fluid pressure means is secured to said stationary valve means. Said stationary valve means and said rotary valve means control the flow of fluid to and from said rotatable and orbitable fluid pressure means. Positionable means including said closure means fixes the axial position of said shaft means in said housing means. Said rotary valve means has an axial position fixed by said stationary valve means against which it is rotated, whereby said rotary valve means and said shaft means are axially fixed independently of each other. Said rotary valve means and said shaft means have mechanical connection means therebetween which includes non-rotative connection means to rotate said rotary valve means by said shaft and axially slidable connection means to accommodate for axial dimensional tolerances between said shaft means and said rotary valve means incident to their being axially positionable independently of each other.

United States Patent [1 1 Woodling 1111 3,748,067 45] July 24, 1973 [76]Inventor: George V. Woodling, 22077 W. Lake Rd., Rocky River, Ohio 44116[22] Filed: July 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,706

Related U.S. Application Data 1 Continuation of Ser. No. 880,677, Nov.28, I969.

Pat. No. 3,592,233.

[52] U.S. Cl. 418/61 [51] Int. Cl. F0lc l/02, F030 3/00, F04c H02 [58]Field of Search 418/61; 137/6252! [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,446,153 5/1969 Easton 418/61 3,288,034 11/1966 White et al.418/61 3,405,603 10/1968 Woodling 418/61 3,452,680 7/1969 White 418/61FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,178,893 1/1970 Great Britain 418/61Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-John J. VrablikAttorney-Woodling, Krost, Granger 8L Rust 57 ABSTRACT Fluid pressuredevice including axially positionable shaft means and rotary valvemeans. Said shaft means and said rotary valve means are independentlyand axially positionable in housing means having first and second endportions. Closure means is removably secured to said first end portionof said housing means. Stationary valve means is removably secured tosaid second end portion of said housing means. Said shaft means rotatessaid rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means.Rotatable and orbitable fluid pressure means is secured to saidstationary valve means. Said stationary valve means and said rotaryvalve means control the flow of fluid to and from said rotatable andorbitable fluid pressure means. Positionable means ineluding saidclosure means, fixes the axial position of said shaft means in saidhousing means. Said rotary valve means has an axial position fixed bysaid stationary valve means against which it is rotated, whereby saidrotary valve means and said shaft means are axially fixed independentlyof each other. Said rotary valve means and said shaft means havemechanical connection means therebetween which includes non-rotativeconnection means to rotate said rotary valve means by said shaft andaxially slidable connection means to accommodate for axial dimensionaltolerances between said shaft means and said rotary valve means incidentto their being axially positionable independently of each other.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 3,748,067

Q l INVENTOR.

GEORGE V. WOQDLING FIG.4 H63 WM WWW.

FLUID PRESSURE DEVICE INCLUDING AXIALLY POSITIONABLE SHAFT MEANS ANDROTARY VALVEMEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is animprovement on the device disclosed in my application, Ser. No. 880,677,filed Nov. 28, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,592,233.

The matching of dimensional tolerances between two independently mountedparts is substantially impossible upon a production basis. An example oftwo independently mounted parts is found in applicants fluid pressuredevice, wherein the shaft and rotary valve are axially positionableindependently of each other. In the present application, applicant doesnot attempt to match dimensional tolerances, as such, but provides asolution by accommodating for axial dimensional tolerances between theshaft and the rotary valve means, in-

cident to their being axially positionable independently of each other.

, An object of my invention is to accommodate for axial dimensionaltolerances between an axially, independently positionable shaft and anaxially, independently positionable rotary valve.

Another object is to obtain such accommodation by providing mechanicalconnection means between the shaft and rotary valve, wherein saidmechanical connection. means includes non-rotative connection means torotate the rotary valve by said shaft and axially slidable connectionmeans to accommodate for axial dimensional tolerances between the shaftand the rotary valve incident to their being axially positionableindependently of each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention constitutes fluid pressured'evice in- "cludingaxially positionable shaft means, axiallypositionable. rotary valve means, housin'g means for said shaft meansand said rotary valve means, said housing means having firstand secondend portions, closure means removably secured to said first end portionof said housing means, stationary'valve means removably secured to saidsecond end portion of said housing means, said shaft meansrotating saidrotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means, rotatable.andorbitable fluid pressure means securedto said stationary valvemeans, said stationary valve means and said rotary'valvemeans'controlling the flow of fluid to and from said rotatable andorbitable fluid pressure means, positionable means including saidclosure means for fixing the axial position of said shaft means in saidhousing means, said rotary valve means having an axial positionfixed bysaid stationary valve means against which it is rotated, whereby said.rotary valve means and said shaft means are axially fixedindependentlyof each other, said rotary valve means and said shaft means havingmechanical connection means therebetween, said mechanical connectionmeans including non-rotative connectionmeans to rotate said rotary valvemeans by said shaft means and axially slidable connection means toaccommodate for axial dimensional tolerances between said shaftmeans andsaidrotary valve means incident to their being axially positionableindependently of each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and a fullerunderstanding 'of this ining a section illustrating both the outside andinside rotary valve ports which appear unshaded;

FIG. 3 is a left-hand side view of the rotary valve only, taken alongthe line 3--3 of FIG. 2, showing principally a female socket ofnon-circular configuration, the rotary valve being rotated 90 degreesfrom the position shown in FIG. 2; and i FIG. 4 is a representation of amale shank provided on a terminal portion of a hollow shaft adapted toslidably fit within the female socket of the rotary valve, the maleshank being rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to match theangular position of the female socket in FIG. 3.

For clarity of invention, the usual static seals and the seal for therotating shaft are not shown. Also, all wear parts are made ofhardenable surfaces and are well lubricated by the operating fluid.

With reference to the drawing, the fluid pressure device in which mycommon bearing means may be incorporated, comprises generally a mainhousing 20 having substantially a square cross-section. Amounting'flange 21 may be secured to the left-hand end of the housing bymeans of suitable screws 26 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1). Thehousing-20 is hollow from end-to-end, and intermediate the ends of thehollow housing there is provided an-annular'internal rim 22which'generally separates the hollow-housing into a left-hand endcompartment and a right-hand end compartment. Rotatively mounted intheleft-hand end compartment is a main load 'shaft 25 having an axissubstantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the fluidpressure device. A bushing'27 and a rotary valve 28 are mounted in theright-hand end compartment. On the right-hand endof the hollow housing,there is mounted a square stationary valve member 29 by means of"suitable screws 30. The rotary valve isadapted to be rotated rel ativeto the stationary valve member 29 for controlling the entrance of fluidto and the exitof fluid from a stator-rotor mechanism 31 comprising astator 32 and a rotor 33. An' end cap 34 encloses the stator-rotormechanism 31. The stator-rotor mechanism 31 and the end cap 34 aresecured to the stationary valvemember 29 bymeans of screws 35. Fluid isdelivered to and from the housing 20 through a pair of fluid ports 23and 24. An actuating shaft 36 interconnects the main shaft 25 with therotor 33 of the stator-rotor mechanism 31 and is adapted to transmittorque therebetween.

The main-shaft 25 comprises an enlarged internal portion having areduced external-portion 41 extending bearing 43. Thus, the taperedroller bearings 42 and 43,

in combination with each other, provide for radial thrust as well as forend thrust in both axial directions, with the tapered roller bearing 42disposed to take the greater part of the radial load. A tightening'nut54 which threadably engages male threads 55 secures the bearings 42 and'43 against axial movement upon the main shaft. The tightening nut 54may be provided with a built-in locking feature to prevent loosening.

As shown, the bearings 42 and 43 are secured against axial movement inthe housing by axial fixation means, indicated by the referencecharacter 60. The axial fixation means 60 is located within a bore 62 ofthe flange and comprises an annular V-shaped or pointed rib whichaxially abuts against a transversely disposed solid abutment wall of thebearing 42. The rib may be constructed either integrally with or as aseparate part from the flange 21. By pressing the flange 21 against theend of the housing 20 during assembly, the pointed rib is coined againstthe bearing 42, with the result that the fixation means accommodates foraxial tolerance in matching the position of the hearings in the housing.The pressure required to coin the axial fixation means is greater thanthe end-wise thrust load to which the bearing means 42 may be subjectedin operation, in which case the bearings 42 and 43 are resisted againstaxial movement in operation. The main shaft is entirely supported by thetwo tapered roller bearings 42 and 43.

The reduced external shaft portion 41 where it passes axially throughthe end mounting flange 21 is not journalled therein but rotates thereinwith a small radial clearance which is adapted to be sealed off bysuitable shaft seal means, not shown. The axial fixation-means 60, afterbeing coined, provides a fluid seal between the housing and the flange.

The bearing 42 and 43 constitute common bearing means for the main shaft25 and the rotary valve 28. The common bearing means directly supportthe main shaft 25 and indirectly support the rotary valve 28 throughextension drive means comprising a hollow shaft 44 carried by the loadshaft 25. The hollow shaft 44 extends axially from the load shaft 25 inthe' lefthand compartment into the right-hand compartment for drivingconnection with the rotary valve 28 for rotating same relative to thestationary valve 29. The hollow shaft 44 terminated with a male shank 45which slidably fits within a female socket 46 provided in the rotaryvalve 28, see FlGS. 2, 3 and 4. This connection comprises anon-rotatable connection and rotates the rotary valve upon rotating bythe main shaft. The connection also provides slidable axial movementbetween the rotary valve 28 and the hollow shaft to accommodate foraxial movement of the load shaft without interfering with the operationof the rotary valve. The axial slidable movement which is permittedbetween the male shank and the female socket 46 is greater than themaximum distance that the load shaft 25 may move in an axial directionduring operation. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotary valve 28 and thesecond compartment means in which it is mounted has a radial clearance47 therebetween to accommodate for radial movement of the load shaft 25without interfering with the operation of the rotary valve. The radialclearance 47 is greater than the maximum distance that the load shaft 25may move in a radial direction during opera tion.

The operation of the rotary valve relative to the stationary valveprovides for controlling the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluidfrom the stator-rotor mechanism. The action of the rotary valve 28 incommutation with the stationary valve is such that there is a firstseries of commutating fluid connections between the fluid port 23 andthe stator-rotor mechanism and a second series of commutating fluidconnections between the stator-rotor mechanism and the fluid port 24.The stationary valve 29 has a plurality of circumferentially disposedopenings 48 which extend therethrough to provide for fluid communicationbetween the rotary valve 28 and the stator-rotor mechanism. Thecommutating valve action, and the flow of fluid between the fluid ports23 and 24 and the stator-rotor mechanism is substantially the same asthat shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,603. Thus, in thepresent application, the annular channel around the outside of therotary valve is in constant communication with the fluid port 23 and thecentral space inside the rotary valve is in constant communication withthe fluid port 24 through opening means 50 in the hollow shaft 44.Likewise, the section through the rotary valve in FIG. 2 of the presentapplication is taken along a line substantially the same as the line23-24 of my patent.

As shown and described in the present invention, the rotary valve 28functions without interference from axial and radial thrust loads on theload shaft 25, even though it is rotatively supported by the samebearings that support the load shaft. I

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination-and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

l. Fluid pressure device including axially positionable shaft means,axially positionable rotary valve means, housing means for said shaftmeans and said rotary valve means, said housing means having first andsecond end portions, closure means removably secured to said first endportion of said housing means, stationary valve means removably securedto said second end portion of saidhousing means, said shaft meansrotating said rotaryvalve means relative to said stationary valve means,fluid pressure means including first and second relatively rotatableelements, oneof said elements being secured to said stationary valvemeans, said stationary valve'means and said rotary valve meanscontrolling the flow of fluid to and from said fluid pressure means,positionable means including said closure means for fixing the axialposition of said shaft'means in said housing means, said rotary valvemeans having an axial position fixed by said stationary valve meansagainst which it is rotated, whereby said rotary valve means and saidshaft means are axially fixed independently of each other, said rotaryvalve means and said shaft means having mechanical connection meanstherebetween, said mechanical connection means including non-rotativeconnection means to rotate said rotary valve means by said shaft meansand axially slidable connection means to accommodate for axialdimensional tolerances between said shaft means and said rotary valvemeans incident to their being axially positionable independently of eachother, said stationary valve means having passage wall means incommunication with said fluid pressure means, said rotary valve meanshaving external fluid chamber means therearound and internal valve fluidchamber means therewithin, said rotary valve means having first fluidconduction means in constant communication with said external chambermeans and in registerable communication with said passage wall means insaid stationary valve means and having second fluid conduction means inconstant communication with said inter' nal valve chamber means and inregisterable communication with said passage wall means in saidstationary valve means, said rotary valve means also having a centralopening in constant fluid communication with said internal valve chambermeans and through which fluid may flow to and from said internal valvechamber means, said shaft means including hollow shaft body meansdefining internal shaft fluid chamber means in constant fluidcommunication with said internal valve fluid chamber means, said hollowshaft body means having passageway wall means through which fluid mayflow to and from said internal shaft fluid chamber means.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means has firstand second axially spaced body portions, said first body portion havinga rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve means, saidsecond body portion having female socket means therein, said shaft meansterminating in male shank means and fitting within said female socketmeans, said mechanical connection means including said male shank meansand said female socket means.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said male shank means comprises ahollow substantially cylindrical body having a shank drive portion.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said female socket means comprisesan internal substantially cylindrical wall having a socket driveportion, said shank and socket drive portions interfitting with eachother, said mechanical connection means including said shank andsocketdrive portions.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means includesrotor means.

. female spline teeth, said second shaft end portion having second malespline teeth thereon fitting within said second female, spline teeth..

1. Fluid pressure device including axially positionable shaft means,axially positionable rotary valve means, housing means for said shaftmeans and said rotary valve means, said housing means having first andsecond end portions, closure means removably secured to said first endportion of said housing means, stationary valve means removably securedto said second end portion of said housing means, said shaft meansrotating said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valvemeans, fluid pressure means including first and second relativelyrotatable elements, one of said elements being secured to saidstationary valve means, said stationary valve means and said rotaryvalve means controlling the flow of fluid to and from said fluidpressure means, positionable means including said closure means forfixing the axial position of said shaft means in said housing means,said rotary valve means having an axial position fixed by saidstationary valve means against which it is rotated, whereby said rotaryvalve means and said shaft means are axially fixed independently of eachother, said rotary valve means and said shaft means having mechanicalconnection means therebetween, said mechanical connection meansincluding non-rotative connection means to rotate said rotary valvemeans by said shaft means and axially slidable connection means toaccommodate for axial dimensional tolerances between said shaft meansand said rotary valve means incident to their being axially positionableindependently of each other, said stationary valve means having passagewall means in communication with said fluid pressure means, said rotaryvalve means having external fluid chamber means therearound and internalvalve fluid chamber means therewithin, said rotary valve means havingfirst fluid conduction means in constant communication with saidexternal chamber means and in registerable communication with saidpassage wall means in said stationary valve means and having secondfluid conduction means in constant communication with said internalvalve chamber means and in registerable communication with said passagewall means in said stationary valve means, said rotary valve means alsohaving a central opening in constant fluid communication with saidinternal valve chamber means and through which fluid may flow to andfrom said internal valve chamber means, said shaft means includinghollow shaft body means defining internal shaft fluid chamber means inconstant fluid communication with said internal valve fluid chambermeans, said hollow shaft body means having passageway wall means throughwhich fluid may flow to and from said internal shaft fluid chambermeans.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means hasfirst and second axially spaced body portions, said first body portionhaving a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valvemeans, said second body portion having female socket means therein, saidshaft means terminating in male shank means and fitting within saidfemale socket means, said mechanical connection means including saidmale shank means and said female socket means.
 3. The structure of claim2, wherein said male shank means comprises a hollow substantiallycylindrical body having a shank drive portion.
 4. The structure of claim3, wherein said female socket means comprises an internal substantiallycylindrical wall having a socket drive portion, said shank and socketdrive portions interfitting with each other, said mechanical connectionmeans including said shank and socket drive portions.
 5. The structureof claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means includes rotor means. 6.The structure of claim 5, wherein said shaft means includes a hollowbody having first female spline teeth therein, said rotor means havingsecond female spline teeth therein, an actuating shaft having first andsecond shaft end portions, said first shaft end portion having firstmale spline teeth thereon fitting within said first female spline teeth,said second shaft end portion having second male spline teeth thereonfitting within said second female spline teeth.